Hi, just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Steve Rao. Don't forget to add sr@steverao.com to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox!
You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails.
|
|
|
|
From the Council Office of Steve Rao
February 14, 2021
|
|
My Valentine Day Message:
|
|
North Carolina crossed 10,000 Deaths this week.
|
|
Join me in wishing the Chinese American Community a very Happy Chinese New Year! |
|
Morrisville Carpenter Road Project |
|
Trump acquitted in 2nd Impeachment Trial.
|
|
|
Governor Cooper Announces Phase 3 Vaccinations will begin Feb 24.
(See Phase 3 Section)
|
|
Walgreens in Morrisville taking Covid Vaccine Appointments! 3601 Davis Drive, Morrisville NC 26560 (919) 468-6880 (See Vaccination Section!)
|
|
|
Morrisville Aquatics and Fitness Center and Cedar Fork Community Center Opens on Feb. 15th
(See MAFC Opens Section for Details)
|
|
Wake County Schools Returns to In-person on Feb 17th.
In-Person Cohort Rotations
Students assigned to Cohort 2 (letter B in PowerSchool) will start in-person rotations on Wednesday, February 17. Students on Cohorts 1 and 3 (A and C in PowerSchool) will remain on remote learning until the week their cohort is assigned to come to school. Please review the WCPSS calendar at the link provided. As a reminder, on RL (Remote Learning) days, no students will come to the building.
Students who chose Virtual Academy for the spring semester will remain on remote learning for the remainder of the semester. VA students may not come to the building for in-person instruction. Virtual Academy students are coded as Cohort 4 (D in PowerSchool).
|
|
Governor Cooper names Machelle Sanders as Commerce Secretary! She becomes first Black woman to lead the Commerce Department in NC and served the past four years as Secretary of Administration.
|
|
President Biden supports the Democratic proposal to give $1,400 direct payments to everyone making $75,000 or less and couples making $150,000 or less in the coronavirus stimulus bill now making its way through Congress. |
|
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Forty-six citizens of our great nation have taken this oath to join the most Exclusive and Powerful Club in the World, the Presidents of the United States. The only requirements for membership is to be born in the United States and to be 35 years of age.
Any citizen, can rise to the highest office in the land. At the time, the Presidency was created, this was a very novel concept.
From George Washington to Joe Biden, these Presidents of the United States have led us through the best of times, and the worst of times, and through their strong leadership our nation saw the greatest economic expansion in world history and also we have been able to see ourselves through the Civil War, Great Depression, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, 9/11, the wars in the Persian Gulf, and Afghanistan and will continue to be called upon in the future to fight terrorism in the US and across the globe and to keep America safe for future generations.
As our nation confronts the most serious health care, economic crises and political division conflicts of our time, lets us hear the calming voice of President Franklin Roosevelt, who launched the New Deal to battle a Great Depression, be reminded of the courage and resilience of George Washington and continue to be inspired by the words and leadership of Abraham Lincoln, inspired a nation to and assured us that a Government of the People, For the People, and By the People.
Happy Presidents Day and we thank each of these leaders for answering the call of duty for the United States of America and only remind each of those running today that your membership in this Club requires more than rhetoric but leadership that can unite our nation.
|
|
Remembering Abraham President Lincoln on his Birthday! Feb 12, 1809 - April 15, 1865 |
|
My IBMTV Monologue on President Lincoln:
|
|
My Message on Lincoln and Leadership:
|
|
“A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand.”- President Abraham Lincoln, June 16, 1858
“With Malice Towards None, with Charity for all, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up and heal the nations’ wounds, to care for he who bore the battle and for his widow and orphan and to do all that we can to achieve a just and lasting peace amongst ourselves and all nations.” President Lincoln’s Second Inaugural, March 4, 1865.
158 years after the Civil War, the United States finds itself more divided than ever before.
A look back at the inspiring words and leadership of our 16th President, can help us remember that we are always stronger as one nation, and that freedom belongs to all of us, wherever we may come from or what our race, ethnicity or religion is.
Today, we can reflect on the impact President Lincoln had on the condition of the United States, and how that affects people around the world still today. For instance, he set in motion affairs that led to slavery (an institution inherited from England after the Revolutionary War) being abolished in the United States. The abolition of slavery was a precursor to Civil Rights both domestically and subsequently abroad.
|
|
Abraham Lincoln was born the same day and year as Charles Darwin. Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species By Means Of Natural Selection For The Preservation of Favored Races was released in 1859. While it was making waves in Europe, the United States was anything but united but instead preparing battle lines that didn’t end until 1865.
Abraham Lincoln is often regarded as one of America’s greatest Presidents. He appears on the U.S. one cent penny and on the $5 bill and is one of four presidents carved into Mount Rushmore. He is the only U.S. President to hold a U.S. Patent where he invented a device to help steamboats pass over sand shoals.
Lincoln is usually ranked alongside George Washington as the two most prominent and well-loved U.S. presidents. Indeed, since his birthday (February 12) and George Washington’s (February 22 on the Gregorian calendar) are close together, they are in many states celebrated together on President’s Day, the third Monday of the month
|
|
Details on Feb 15 MAFC Reopening! |
The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center will be reopening tomorrow on Monday, February 15, 2021. The decision to reopen our facility was based on the continued stabilization of COVID-19 metrics, distribution and availability of vaccinations in Wake County, and Wake County Public School System’s return to in-person instruction.
Memberships and SignUp Genius
- The freeze placed on all month pass and punch pass memberships will be lifted, thus extending whatever your original expiration date was by 35 days. This will give you adequate time to use your existing membership before having to renew again.
- SignUp Genius will go live for Monday, February 15, one week ahead on Monday, February 8. At that point, our normal schedule of SignUp Genius slots becoming available one week in advance will resume.
Fitness
- Group fitness classes will pick up upon our reopening, with some fun, new classes added to the schedule! Visit our website to see the full schedule and corresponding class descriptions.
- Water aerobics classes will be reduced to a maximum of five people for added safety, due to the inability of participants to wear masks in the water.
- Our free pickleball clinic that was originally to be held on January 13 will be postponed until further notice. Those who were registered will be contacted with the new date as soon as one is confirmed by USA Pickleball.
- Karate participants who were affected by our closure will be automatically re-enrolled into the new course that is set to begin on March 2.
- Doors throughout the facility, including those in the cardio area, will be opened to promote cross-ventilation. This area will be cooler than usual for the foreseeable future, so please plan accordingly.
Aquatics
- Doors throughout the facility, including the pool exit doors, will be opened to promote cross-ventilation. The air temperature at the pool will be cooler for the foreseeable future, so please plan accordingly.
Health and Safety
- Face coverings are required at all times inside the facility, including during exercise and when using the locker room. They may only be removed for showering and swimming and must be worn immediately before and after these activities.
- Face coverings must be covering your nose and mouth at all times.
- We will continue to close twice daily on weekdays, and once daily on weekends, to complete a robust sanitization of the facility. The cleaning times are noted in SignUp Genius.
As we prepare to reopen, we implore you to be exceedingly vigilant and compliant when it comes to visiting our facility. As always, we expect all members to abide by the 3Ws – wearing a face covering, washing hands and waiting six feet apart – and to stay home if you are particularly high risk, feeling sick or have had an exposure.
By showing courtesy and respect for one another at MAFC, we can do our part to slow the spread AND provide our community with a safe place to exercise, interact and have fun.
|
|
Governor Cooper Announces PHASE 3 Vaccination Begins on Feb. 24 |
Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. have outlined a timeline for Group 3 frontline workers becoming eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, beginning with anyone working in child care or in PreK – 12 schools on February 24.
Because vaccine supply continues to be limited and the Group 3 population of frontline essential workers is so large, the state needs to move to the next group gradually. Those working in child care and schools, such as teachers, bus and van drivers, custodial and maintenance staff, and food service workers, will be eligible first. This includes staff in child care centers and homes, Head Start Programs, Preschool and PreK programs, traditional public schools, charter schools and private schools.
States must vaccinate people in groups due to limited supply. North Carolina is currently vaccinating people in Groups 1 and 2, which include health care workers, long-term care staff and residents and people 65 and older. In the coming weeks, providers will continue to vaccinate these groups. More than 40 percent of North Carolina’s residents 65 and older have been vaccinated.
Under the timeline outlined today, the state plans to move to additional frontline workers on March 10th.
|
|
Wake County: Wake County Public Health Vaccine Hotline 919-250-1515. It is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit website at https://covid19.wakegov.com/vaccine!
Duke Raleigh Hospital at (19) 620- 5167.
Process is to Call or visit website, join the waiting list, receive notification, and get your Vaccination Appointment!
Walgreens will offer Covid 19 Vaccine in 300 Stores (31,200 doses) in North Carolina starting on Feb 12 as a distributor under the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program and is planning to distribute 1 million doses of the Moderna Vaccine. For more information, sign up at walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19.
(See Wake County Mass Vaccination Information Below)
|
|
Wake County Mass Vaccination AT PNC Arena |
Wake County Public Health is collaborating with UNC Health, Duke, and Wake Med to launch a mass vaccination site starting Feb. 11. And the site will be open six days per week. at PNC Arena, the home of the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State University Men’s Basketball, agreed to turn its 8,000-space parking lot into an appointment only drive-thru vaccine clinic.
The site will begin with two days of vaccinations next week, with the goal of inviting more than 2,100 health care workers and those 65 and older from the county’s growing COVID-19 vaccine waitlist.
Appointments are required to receive a vaccination, and vaccinations will not be available without confirmation of a spot. Starting Friday, health care workers and those over 65 years of age, will be notified by email, phone and text.
- First link is to Enroll and sign up at https://covid-vaccine-portal.ncdhhs.gov/s/
- The second link is to make an appointment to receive the vaccine. Printing out appointment information or taking a screenshot on a smartphone will speed up the check-in process at the site.
In addition to the more than 2,000 appointments available at the new appointment only drive-thru site next week:
- 3,500 appointments will be made at the county’s two indoor locations (Wake County Public Health Center and the Wake County Commons Building).
- 200 vaccines will be administered by Wake County strike teams dispatched to long-term residents and staff.
- 800 vaccines will be delivered to historically marginalized populations by mobile strike teams heading out into the community.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
- Take Edwards Mill Bus 26 to the stop at Edwards Mill Road at Trinity Road Northbound; or
- Take Blue Ridge Bus 27 to the stop at Blue Ridge Road at Westchase Boulevard Southbound
|
|
WAKE COUNTY SCHOOLS RETURN TO IN PERSON |
The Wake County Public School System will allow Pre-K through third graders to come back to school for daily in-person learning on Feb. 15. The decision passed by an 8-1 vote on Tuesday night. Grades 4 and 5 will meet in person in three-week rotations as will many middle and high school students. Special education regional programs will meet for daily in-person learning. The move comes a day after Gov. Cooper and other state officials urged school districts to let students back into the classroom |
|
Governor Cooper Signs Covid 19 Relief Bill |
General Assembly back in Session:
Included in the plan are one-time bonuses for educators, including $2,500 for teachers and principals, $1,500 for school personnel, and $2,000 for workers in community colleges and universities. Cooper added that educators are the only state employees that didn't receive a pay raise last year.
Also included is funding to expand child care access, funding for food assistance and $30 million to expand high-speed internet access, $1.6 billion to help reopen schools and improve technology to help close learning gaps, $546 million for rent assistance, $95 million for the state health department to help with vaccine distribution.
The state is on track to receive more than 145,000 new first doses over the next three weeks from the federal government
Cooper also announced state unemployment benefits would increase to a maximum of $500 per week, for a maximum of 26 weeks.
|
|
GOVERNOR COOPER EXTENDS STAY AT HOME ORDER |
Governor Roy Cooper has the current modified Stay-At-Home order until Feb. 28and plans to keep the eviction moratorium and statewide order allowing to-go mixed drinks sales in place through March.
In early December, Gov. Cooper announced the modified Stay-At-Home order, which was the first set of such restrictions since Memorial Day. The order was extended for three weeks in early January.
The order imposes measures closing non-essential businesses like gyms, restaurants and retail at 10 p.m. nightly, and allowing them to reopen at 5 a.m.
The restrictions also included moving the alcohol curfew to 9 p.m. Gov. Cooper extends the sale of to-go mixed drinks will be in effect until March 31. That order was originally issued on Dec. 22 and seeks to reduce the number of people gathering in bars while allowing businesses to increase revenue. |
|
TOWN OF MORRISVILLE OPERATIONS AFFECTED BY STAY AT HOME ORDER |
Today Gov. Roy Cooper announced the latest extension of the Modified Stay at Home Order. Executive Order 189 outlines the details of the extended Order.
The following changes to Town of Morrisville operations will be in place through February 28:
- Town of Morrisville offices will be closed to the public.
- Town Council meetings (and the February 11 Planning & Zoning Board meeting) will be completely virtual.
The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center and Cedar Fork Community Center will be closed until at least February 12. No outdoor classes will be conducted, but virtual programming will be available (parks, greenways, tennis courts and the Healthy Food Hub will remain open).
Town staff will continue to work mostly remotely, with a limited number of employees in Town buildings.
If there is a spike in infections, tightening of restrictions may be needed temporarily.
Morrisville residents who have non-emergency questions about issues specific to the Town of Morrisville can contact the Town’s Community Information Line at 919-463-7065 or by email at eoc@townofmorrisville.org.
Town leaders will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with the Wake County Public Health Division and the State of North Carolina.
|
|
Kudos to my dear friend Narasiman and NCCSO, who has actively engaged with Interfaith Food Shuttle and Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC and provided them with $5000 and $20,000 to feeding the hungry, affected by Covid.
They also fed Wake, Durham and Chatham Community homeless communities partnering with local shelters or rescue missions. We provided masks and Christmas gifts (Bombas socks) for poor local communities. In response to NC Governor's call for supporting schools, we provided $2000 to two NC county schools. We hope to expand a number of these activities in 2021.
Love All and Serve All! Help Ever and Hurt Never!
|
|
Thanks for attending our Feb 13 Black History Youth Event at 4 pm with Steve Rao and Beverly Yekeson. |
View the recorded session:
Aired on Radio Nyra at 4 pm on 99.9FMHD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!
|
|
Thanks for coming out to this week to the St. Michaels’ Career Ministry Hosts State of the Triangle Job Market with Tricia Lucas, Co- Founder Lucas Select! |
I will be posting the link to the event in my next newsletter once I get it. Great advice on the Job Market! |
|
Feb 15th – Feb 18th 2021 Reconnect for the Future |
Feb 15th – Feb 18th 2021 Reconnect for the Future,
A Virtual Emerging Issues Forum
|
|
|
Feb 20, Morrisville CERT Blood Drive |
Feb 20, Morrisville CERT is sponsoring a Blood Drive!
#BloodDrive #MorrisvilleCERT
|
|
FEB 25th 7- 8:30 pm FAITH COMMUNITIES SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY |
The N.C. Council of Churches in partnership with Triangle Interfaith Alliance (TIA) and the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA-NCC) invite you to join us for the 2021 Triangle Interfaith Alliance Annual Meeting: Faith Communities Supporting Democracy. The evening will begin with an introduction to the work of the N.C. Council of Churches, TIA, and MFSA-NCC, and ways you can engage in this work. Following this introduction will be a keynote address delivered by the Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman, former President of the N.C. Council of Churches Governing Board and current President of the N.C. NAACP.
Come together with fellow people of faith and to learn how to mobilize, advocate, and stand-up for positive social change.
|
|
Join me Sunday 4 PM on Radio Mirchi for another update on local issues.
99.9FM HD4, 101.9 FM and 1490 AM!
|
|
|
Join us every Friday on World Edition at 10 am for the Great America Project Panel where we discuss how we rebuild Americas' image with leaders from around the country and world.
|
|
|
- For latest Covid 19 information, please dial 2-1-1 or 888- 892-1162.
- Get Updates by texting COVIDNC at 898211.
- For unemployment insurance, please visit NC Dept of Employment Security at https://des.nc.gov/.
- 1,440,940 NC citizens have applied for UI Benefits, 960, 893 have been paid benefits, and $9.9 billion of benefits have been issued. Appeals of denied jobless benefits are taking many months.
-
Apply for Wake Forward program at https://covid19.wakegov.com/wakeforward/.
North Carolina is reporting 4,130 more COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 818,724.
State health officials are reporting 77 more deaths, bringing the total to 10,453.
Hospitalizations have decreased by 50 to 2,101.
The state's percent positive test rate has remained the same since Friday at 6.5%.
CASES:
4,130 Newly reported Cases
+ N.C. = 818,724 Cases (Deaths = 10,453)
+ 6.5% Positive Rate
+ Wake County = 70,183 Cases (Deaths=501)
+ US = 27.2 million Cases/468,000 deaths
+ Worldwide = 107 million/2.35 million deaths
+ Completed Tests: 9, 379,095
+ 2,101 Hospitalized
|
|
|
|
Council Member Rao holds office hours on Friday from 12:00-1:00 PM by appointment only at 100 Town Hall Drive in Morrisville.
|
|
Council Member Steve Rao
Town of Morrisville
Dedicated to transforming Morrisville into an ideal place to work and raise a family!
|
|
See what's happening on our social sites: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
